A 3-month-old girl passed away after getting ejected from a car involved in an Interstate 85 traffic accident in Durham, North Carolina, on Tuesday, January 18th. The accident occurred at about 4:15 p.m., and reckless driving appears to have contributed to the occurrence.
According to the Durham Police Department, 39-year-old Shannelle Johnson of Raleigh tried to merge into the far left lane of the interstate from the far right lane. The Interstate 85 traffic accident investigators said the woman attempted to pass another car but struck the vehicle’s left rear corner. The impact caused her vehicle to overturn several times before resting upright in the far left lane.
When the car overturned, the infant and a 4-year-old girl got ejected as neither of them was secured with seat belts. The 3-month-old girl died at the crash scene, while the older child sustained critical injuries. The police said she received treatment in a hospital.
Johnson sustained injuries the investigators described as non-life-threatening. However, the police cited her for misdemeanor death by vehicle, careless and reckless driving, and failure to secure a passenger under 16.
Traffic accidents happen due to the negligent acts of drivers and other road users. Careless and reckless driving are examples of negligent behavior. Others are speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, etc. When a negligent driver causes a fatal accident, they will likely face criminal penalties.
Additionally, the personal representative of the deceased victim can file a civil action known as a wrongful death claim to recover compensation. However, the personal representative may not be a relative, which might create problems and raise questions.
Our North Carolina car accident lawyers at Ted A. Greve and Associates would answer all your questions if you lost a loved one in an auto crash. Contact us today.
Source: https://bit.ly/3gp3Mkl
